HC Deb 30 January 1969 vol 776 cc370-1W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) how many Commonwealth students from India, Pakistan and the West Indies, respectively, were admitted to British universities to study for first degrees or their equivalent in 1962, 1963 and each ensuing year up to 1968; and how many postgraduate students from the same countries were admitted in the same years;

(2) how many students from India, Pakistan and the West Indies, admitted during the years 1962 to 1967 to study for first degrees, returned home after graduation; and how many of the postgraduate students admitted during the same period returned home after obtaining their second degree.

Mr. Oram

My Department is responsible for only a relatively small proportion of all the students from overseas who study at British universities. There are also a number of students sponsored and administered by the British Council

1962* 1963* 1964* 1965* 1966* 1967* 1968* Total
†UG PG UG PG UG PG UG PG UG PG UG PG UG PG UG PG
India 1 54 1 96 — 90 — 110 — 103 1 106 — 114 3 673
Pakistan 1 106 3 128 2 81 — 56 4 121 4 148 1 149 15 789
West Indies 5 9 6 37 6 42 7 45 7 36 3 44 4 53 38 266
Total 5 169 10 261 8 213 7 211 11 260 8 298 5 316 + 56 + 1,728
* Calendar years where possible, but totals include some figures on the basis of the academic years 1962–63 and 1968–69.
† UG = Undergraduate PG = Postgraduate.

A proportion only of these students are pursuing first degree or postgraduate degree courses leading to academic qualifications. The remainder are attending courses specially designed to meet their needs; these courses do not result in academic qualifications.

The average figure for all O.D.M. sponsored students since 1962 who have not returned home is negligible, certainly less than 1 per cent. The average for India, Pakistan and the West Indies is slightly higher at about 1 per cent. The equivalent figure for all British Council Scholars and Bursars over a similar period is similarly negligible; no separate figures are available in respect of the three countries in question. Figures for students administered (mainly postgraduate and research) by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission later than 1963 are not available.

There is also the Commonwealth Bursary Scheme under which teachers from the Commonwealth come to Britain for training at Institutes of Further Education. Between 1962–63 and 1968–69 a total of 920 arrived from India, Pakistan and the West Indies to undertake courses in Britain. All returned home at the end of their courses.